Good win for Hares

PUBLISHED: 10:10 20 June 2008 | UPDATED: 11:16 03 July 2010

THE Hares recorded a very good win at home to fellow strugglers, Shipdham, in the Norfolk League Division Two, when a good all-round team performance saw them win the game by eight wickets and gave them 23 points to the visitors' four.

THE Hares recorded a very good win at home to fellow strugglers, Shipdham, in the Norfolk League Division Two, when a good all-round team performance saw them win the game by eight wickets and gave them 23 points to the visitors' four.

The game was a personal triumph for skipper Steven Clarke, who took two catches and two terrific stumpings to help restrict Shipdham to 144-9, and then went on to score a brilliant 69 not out in difficult batting conditions to see his side pass their target in the 37th over.

This meant that Steven was on the field of play

both as a wicketkeeper and batsman throughout the entire game - which was a superb display of concentration on his part.

He received excellent support from Stephen Cooke (23) who helped him in an opening stand of 42 runs before being adjudged lbw off the bowling of D Ellis and William Gilder (3) who added a further 21 runs with him before he too was out lbw to M Duffield in the 20th over.

Simon Brister's excellent 43 not out in an unbroken partnership of 84 with his captain saw the Hares home in the 37th over with only two wickets lost to give them a much-needed win in their attempt to get away from the lower reaches of their league.

Although the outfield was wet and slow from some earlier rain, Clarke's powerful strokes saw him nine fours whilst Brister hit four fours.

Earlier, at the start at the game, the Hares skipper had won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first, hoping the cloudy, damp conditions would help his bowlers.

A tight opening spell by Tom Booth and Tim Crane made runs hard to come by and then a superb one-handed catch by young Tom off Crane's bowling removed opener R Palmer (6) in the 12th over with the score on 18 runs. Just four runs later, Crane got another wicket when M Duffield was caught behind by Clarke without scoring.

J Read (7) then helped the other opener K Stagles add 26 runs to the score before a good catch by Shaun Howley off Tom Booth's bowling reduced Shipdham to 48-3 in the 23rd over. Just one run later, D Cox was run out for one and only four more runs were scored before a superb stumping by Clarke off Alan Booth's bowling helped dismiss Stagles for 29.

The total was now 53-5 in the 25th over. D Ellis (14) and S Oliver (22) then added a quick-fire 25 runs in just five overs before a catch by father Alan off son Tom's bowling removed Ellis. When the visitors were 84-6 in the 30th over, a heavy shower caused an hour's delay and an early tea was taken.

When play resumed, the wet conditions seemed to hamper the bowlers as some positive batting by the Shipdham tail-enders saw them add 60 more runs in the remaining overs before their innings closed on 144-9 to deny the hosts maximum bowling points. P Hurdleby finished on a fine 36 not out.

Tim Crane bowled very well finishing with 3-18 from 10 overs whilst Alan Booth gave him good support taking 3-35 from his 12 overs. Son Tom also bowled well, although his figures suffered a bit with the batsmen's late onslaught, as he finished with 2-46 from 12 overs.

Credit is due to both teams for completing the game in spite of the difficult conditions.

This week's game is away at Hardingham, whilst the A-team are at home to Hingham.